Potential Stool Test for Detecting Bowel Inflammation

A study group from Germany reported that a new diagnostic stool test that can differentiate Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). In this study, researchers used an assay that detected a protein (S100A12) in the fecal material that is secreted by white blood cells and the level is increased in stool of IBD subjects. (Prior studies used another protein (calprotectin) in the stool for the same reason with some success). The accuracy of this test in differentiating IBS from IBD is relatively high (sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 96%) and could be an excellent noninvasive tool in diagnosis of gastrointestinal disorders. GUT 2007-10-10 12:33:00